What is Politics
The word ‘politics’ typically springs in one’s mind as an imagery of government, statesmen along with their axioms or more disapprovingly, the thought of duplicity and cunning ways. The absolute definition appears to be mantled and nearly lost by such clichés and representations that tend not to define the exact quintessence which defines politics. In aims of defining politics, a system approach is needed. Starting with a succinct historical synopsis will be considered to comprehend the basis of politics.
The word ‘politics’ depicts the distinct world of undertakings, viewpoints, relationships, orientation behavior and communication links concerned with government and patronage. The chief political theme is the social/ethnic group with its political establishments, movements, organizations, and leaders. Politics’ impetus is to shepherd public progress in a positive route by discerning common targets and methods of attaining them. Politics is both art and science. Politics was deemed a science since humankind established the regulations of social advancement, which affected the political existence. Politics as an art deals with the personal perspective regarding the political procedure and entails the utilization of intuition, experience, vision and creative courage. ‘Politics’ was instituted by Aristotle (Greek philosopher), who described politics as a sophisticated kind of community which fulfills the ‘common good.’ Politics can additionally be rephrased from Greek as ‘an act of government.’ politics is aimed at standardizing associations between various social groups in aims of determining the objectives, forms, and content of state proceedings.
Politics is a vital component of contemporary society and holds a compound, multi-dimensional composition. The political target is the varied social groups – community, classes, political parties, foundations, international organizations, government forms, and so on. Those above are all the constituents that are capable of functioning independently and freely. These organizations bear specific information, plus their roles are non-identical. The primary political aim is world peace. Nevertheless, peace is not purely the nonexistence of violence; Peace entails much more. Peace is accorded only when impartialness is executed everywhere. Peace is a utopia that earth cannot reach. Despite this, the objectives and aims of politics are to gravitate towards this direction and ensure that earth’s inhabitants live peacefully and freely. Every political structure, every syndicate of power is temporary and imperfect. Any effort to form a quintessential society fails thus leading to the constraints of power. Politics deals not with the notion of the harmony of the right and left-wing ideologies. Politics means arguing and fighting, not just in hopes of arriving at the most appropriate solution, but also about the current fundamental issues. The recent debates circling on the possibilities and limits of genetic engineering serve as a fitting example. The reason every system is temporary and imperfect is the creativity and freedom of people. Inventions along with new technology make developments possible. The environment, trends, and demography are continually shifting and so do the politics.
Most individuals acknowledge not that they are directly attached to the fundamentals of politics even though they refer to politics as corrupt and dirty. Politics, in its most fitting fundamental meaning, is the thought of confronting, serving, promoting, developing and understanding any human settlement. Alternatively put, politics entails the decision making procedure applying to all members of a group, necessitating the utilization of power by one to influence the demeanor and conduct of another. Usually, politics has been linked to cruel ambitions, the callous thirst of power, aristocrats, bureaucracy, corruptions, and nobles. But politics is a deeper reflection of our interaction and association with fellow individuals. Social units like a tribe, family, religion, kinship, cast, state, etc., which associate themselves with human settlement frequently depend on politics. The family’s head-the father chooses what fits the family best. Should he purchase a vehicle, new television, a washing machine, money investment methods, what alterations should be done to the house; a basic set of rules that the family follows.
Additionally, while one also decides what best fits the family, he indirectly or directly influences the choices and decision making of the family’s members. Here, the father represents the decision-making body; thereby, he uses power to influence the conduct and behavior of his subjects or his family members. At times, the decisions are taken solely, without any permission or discussion of the family members. And sometimes, with discussion and approval from other members or any other equal entity. These decisions are not always welcomed or accepted instantly by concerned parties; they even disagree and attempt to alter the decisions, which undoubtedly lead to conflict and disputes. Thus, debate and discussion are the primary founding facets regarding the decision making procedure, this decision along with its effects are otherwise called ‘politics.’
As an expression, ‘politics’ should not be confined to a singular set of actions; instead, politics should appertain to a class of human conduct or behaviors that hold a common motive. Power constitutes significantly in politics because its consequences do yield negative or positive outcomes. In politics, power is a two-way relationship hinged on how individuals interact dependent on the values or resources they possess or are in control of. Conflict crops up due to pressure to reach specific goals that might be unrealistic. This is why leaders sometimes manipulate their followers to satisfy their needs at others’ expense. Democratic systems use power in a way that does not involve force; rather than obtaining power, democratic systems use influence identified as soft power.
Undoubtedly, defining politics can be extensively broad and thus become meaningless. However, that is not the case here. We have not classified all human doings/activities as political, only activities that entail the pursuit of desired results and merit in concurrence with others. Within that, others can be utilized toward obtaining our aims, or they can be impediments to be counterpoised, and doing either of the aforementioned is political behavior. Understanding the term politics is more complex than it initially appears. Alternatively put, the most fitting answer for the definition of politics varies greatly because ‘politics’ can be defined in various conflicting ways.